By regarding the Alexandrian war as a not very serious ‘diversion’ or a ‘distraction’ for Caesar from his primary goal of concluding the civil war we may overlook a significant fact. While risking a great deal, with that conflict Caesar had added an important element to his clientele: Egypt, which for a long time had been feudally subject to Pompey and his associates. Now, however, all his efforts were directed towards the rearrangement of the eastern clientele, disrupted by the death of Pompey. From Syria to Pontus this was Caesar's priority, despite urgent calls for him to return to Rome, and although he knew that Cato was reassembling the remaining Pompeian forces in Africa. The confirmation of this is in the fact that, once Alexandria was dominated, Caesar did not march against Juba but towards Syria.

In Syria the reaction to Pompey's defeat at Pharsalus had been so swift and well-organised (Antioch had taken up arms, menacing any supporters of Pompey who approached the city), that the suspicion arises that Caesarian elements must have been active there. Caesar is well informed, down to the slightest details, about the expulsion of Pompey from Syria after the defeat, which also seems to confirm that his men were operating there. When he found himself in difficulties in Alexandria he was able to rely on elements that came primarily from Syria.